Rutgers University
Marquette University
Rutgers Tennis Earns 5-2 Win over Marquette
Mar 01 | Women's Tennis
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (March 1, 2013) - The Rutgers women's tennis team improved to 2-0 in the BIG EAST, notching a 5-2 win over Marquette at the East Brunswick Racquet Club, Friday. The Scarlet Knights won four of the six singles contests, while also earning the doubles point. The win was the third straight for Rutgers.
"This was a phenomenal match," said 10th-year head coach Benjamin Bucca. "The shot making was at a very high quality. Congratulations to Marquette. They really fought hard. This match really shows what an extraordinarily strong and competitive spirit this team has. That was probably the difference in the match."
Overall, RU improved to 5-2 on the season while the Golden Eagles fell to 9-5 and 0-2 in league play.
To receive the doubles point, the tandem of junior Vanessa Petrini (Stamford, Conn.) and freshman Gina Li (Hillsborough, N.J.) started Rutgers off in the No. 1 spot with an 8-2 victory over Rocio Diaz and Ali Dawson of Marquette. Petrini and Li are now 4-1 as a pair. Following a DNF in No. 2 doubles play, sophomores Lindsay Balsamo (Wall, N.J.) and Noor Judeh (Potomac, Md.) sealed the point with an 8-4 decision over Aleeza Kanner and Aina Hernandez Soler.
Li picked up the first singles tally for the Scarlet Knights in No. 2 singles, downing Diaz (6-0, 6-2) in straight sets. After RU dropped the third singles point, the squad won the last three decisions of the match. Freshman Lindsey Kayati (Monroeville, N.J.) recorded a 6-3, 6-3 win over Golden Eagle Erin Gebes. Rutgers closed out the match with a 6-4, 7-5 win by Judeh over Laia Hernandez Soler before Balsamo defeated Kanner (6-2, 6-2).
Li improved her overall record to a team-best 6-1.
Rutgers next continues BIG EAST play on the road, taking on Connecticut in Storrs, Conn., at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5.
Rutgers 5, Marquette 2
Singles
No. 1: Ana Pimienta (MU) def. Vanessa Petrini (RU), 7-5, 5-7, 12-14
No. 2: Gina Li (RU) def. Rocio Diaz (MU), 6-0, 6-2
No. 3: Ali Dawson (MU) def. Mariam Zein (RU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-10
No. 4: Lindsey Kayati (RU) def. Erin Gebes (MU), 6-3, 6-3
No; 5: Noor Judeh (RU) def. Laia Hernandez Soler (MU), 6-4, 7-5
No. 6: Lindsay Balsamo (RU) def. Aleeza Kanner (MU), 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1: Petrini/Li (RU) def. Dawson/Diaz (MU), 8-2
No. 2: Zein/Kayati (RU) vs. Pimienta/Gebes (MU), 8-8 (DNF)
No. 3: Balsamo/Judeh (RU) def. Kanner/Aina Hernandez Soler (MU), 8-4
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